Black Wall Street was in Greenwood, a district of Tulsa, Oklahoma. It was special and tells an important story in American history. From 1906 to 1921, this area was known for being one of the most successful Black economies ever. That means it was a place where African-American businesses thrived. The community was strong and rich.

The story of Black Wall Street starts with a man named O.W. Gurley. He was a wealthy African-American who moved to Tulsa from Arkansas. In 1906, he bought more than 40 acres of land and decided to sell pieces of it to other African Americans. His dream was to create a place where Black people could own businesses and live happily.

During the 1910s, there was an oil boom in northeast Oklahoma, around Tulsa. This helped the area of Greenwood grow and flourish. Many businesses were started, and the community was doing really well.

However, in 1921, something terrorizing happened. There was an event known as the Tulsa Race Riot, this is the sanitized name. It started because of a lie a white woman told on a porter of an elevator. A big group of White people attacked the residents of Greenwood as a result. This attack lasted for two days, and it was very destructive. This is the first time in American history a city had been bombed. And it was bombed by Americans.

Hundreds of Black residents were hurt, and many lost their homes and businesses. Over 800 people needed to go to the hospital, about 10,000 people became homeless, 35 city blocks were destroyed, and 600 businesses were lost.

But the story doesn’t end there. Even after this terrible event, the people of Greenwood didn’t give up. They came together and rebuilt the area within five years of the riot. But, people tried to stop them. This shows how strong and determined the community was.

Black Wall Street is a reminder of what people can achieve. They do it by working together and supporting each other. It also teaches us about the importance of standing up and rebuilding, even when things seem impossible. The story of Greenwood is a mix of triumph, because of how successful the community was, and tragedy, because of the terrorism. But most of all, it’s a story of resilience and strength.